Court confirms 29 death sentences in biggest drug case

The Supreme People's Court in the northern province of Quang Ninh on
June 19 refused to revoke death sentences given to 29 people involved in
the biggest drug trafficking case in Vietnam.

The findings followed a four-day appellate trial.

One of the appellants had his death sentence reduced to a life sentence.

The
trial was presented with evidence of 5,000 cakes of heroin weighing a
total of 1,750 kilos - plus thousands of methamphetamine pills.

Of
a total of 89 defendants at the preliminary hearing held in January,
the provincial People's Court handed down the death penalty to 30 of the
traffickers, gave life imprisonment to 13 - and up to 20 years in jail
for many others.

They were charged with drug trafficking, forging
documents and hiding military weapons. They were also convicted of
doing illegal business, not denouncing criminals, bribing and being
involved in bribery.

Of the 89 defendants, 40 appealed for a
reduction in their sentences, one requested a review of his charges, and
another continued to plead his innocence.

At the June 19 hearing, Nong Van Len had his sentence reduce from death to life imprisonment.

The court retained life imprisonment handed down to four defendants and from four to 20 years in jail for another four.

The
crimes were discovered late last year. Police said it involved a
trafficking ring set up in Vietnam and involving Laos and China.-VNA